“We are in a moment when progress on renewable energy will come from cities across the country,” said Bret Fanshaw with Environment America. “Cities like Washington, DC, are leading the way to a future powered by clean, renewable energy.”

A City with a History of Green Energy

DC has a history of supporting green energy sources. At the end of 2017, Washington, DC had a total installed solar capacity of 47.3 megawatts, ranking it 13th in the country. More than 45 percent of the city’s electricity comes from solar sources—a staggering percentage compared to many other US cities.

Notably, every government building in Washington, DC is powered by renewable energy. The feat is dramatically more impressive when you take into account that with federal as well as municipal government buildings, DC has the most government buildings in the nation.

DC Mayor Bowser acknowledged the honor, and the special role the city plays in American political movements, in an interview with Solar Industry Magazine. “It is in the best interest of Washington, DC’s safety, economy, and future to take sustainability and resiliency seriously, and as the nation’s capital, we have a special obligation to lead the way on environmental issues. Our commitment to these issues will not yield, and we look forward to continuing to build a greener, more resilient, and more sustainable DC.”

Renewable Energy Projects in DC Create a Greener Future for All

The city’s many green initiatives from the Department of Energy and Environment, such as Solar for All, are continuing to work to improve the city’s energy efficiency, decrease carbon pollution, and increase the city’s reliance on sustainable energy. The Solar for All program recently helped launch the city’s largest community solar project at the Atlantic Terrace Apartment Complex on Third Street SE. The project will power 200 households for the next 15 years.

Like the “city on a hill” that the founding fathers imagined, Washington DC’s success towards sustainable energy solutions acts as a beacon to other cities across the nation and the globe. Though it still has more work to do, DC is proving that success with renewable energy is possible, achievable, and can benefit multiple communities.

CleanChoice Energy is proudly headquartered in Washington, DC, and a part of the area’s shining future! As a renewable energy company that envisions a future free from the catastrophic effects of climate change and with abundant clean air, our mission is to make clean energy accessible to all.